Nick Mangold, long time friend and teammate of Mark Sanchez's, thinks the team's once-maligned franchise quarterback gives the Jets the best chance to win.

In an interview at a Manhattan charity event today, Mangold said that he thinks a majority of those locker room feel the same way.

“I believe so,” he told The New York Post. “I haven’t walked around with a pen and paper and taken a poll, but from the feeling I get, the locker room wants to win. Whoever gives us the best chance to do that, we want out there -- and at this point, Mark gives us that best chance.”

Mangold's account also comes into conflict with that of CBS' Mike Freeman, who spoke to an unnamed Jet who said that Sanchez has lost the locker room and that a majority of the locker room wants Smith to be named the starter.

The point? There's still varying opinions. There's still loyalty to Sanchez and there's still some who feel like he shouldn't be the quarterback. It's natural at this point and it's also too early to make a determination.

Multiple coaches have hinted at wanting to see both of the QBs in pads a few times, likely in a preseason game. Maybe then we'll see which quarterback a majority of the locker room wants.